Exclusive Photo: The new iDrive in the 5-Series

We are back with our exclusive news and today, we have the opportunity to show you the new iDrive knob that will be available in the …

We are back with our exclusive news and today, we have the opportunity to show you the new iDrive knob that will be available in the next generation 5 Series, probably the 7 and the 3er's as well. Our friends at bimmerfile have already shown you the new iDrive system in a 3 series test mule.

Obviously BMW has learned from their mistakes and the new iDrive system seems to be simplifying things for the driver and the new row of buttons around the knob will help navigate faster through menus and settings.

From an engineering and designer point of view, I can certainly see how the new added buttons will help tremendously the iDrive user, cutting some unecessary steps. The Back and Option buttons are placed in a comfortable position, behind the knob, which in a way works as a computer mouse, with 2 click buttons. I haven't seen the new system myself, but as soon as I have a chance to play with it, I will report back on how the functionality on it really is.

Edit: To eliminate any confusion, the interior is of a current 5 Series.